36 NATURAL HISTOBY OF PLANTS. 



superposed descending with extrorse superior micropyle, one some- 

 times more or less ascendent. Pruit capsular; cells 5, generally 

 ] -spermous septifragally solute from columella of axis, descendent 

 ■with, style usually from base to apex elastically revolute. Seeds 

 generally descendent ; albumen scanty or ; radicle of embryo 

 (sometimes coloured) incumbent on induplicate-plicate or convolute 

 cotyledons. — Herbs, sometimes sufeutescent or csespitose-subacaulig 

 at base ; branches articulate-nodose ; leaves alternate or opposite, den- 

 tate or palmate or more rarely digitate lobed or dissected ; petioles 

 incrassate at base, 2-stipulate ; flowers at summit of peduncle axillary 

 or lateral, solitary or more usually in cymes (rarely multifloral), 

 1 -lateral sometimes umbelliferous. (All temperate and trop. 

 mount, regions.) See p. 3. 



3. Erodium L'her. — Flowers (of Geranium) regular or scarcely 

 irregular ; stamens 5 alternipetalous antheriferous ; oppositipetalous 

 sterUe antherless, sometimes squamiform. Germen and fruit of (?e- 

 ranium ; g2i.VlA& of carpels inwardly usually barbate or villous. — Herbs 

 or undershrubs; leaves inflorescence and other characters of Geranium. 

 {North tern, regions of old world, South Africa, /Australia.) See p. 6. 



4. Monsouia L. — Flowers nearly of Geranium ; petals entire 

 {Holopetalum) or dentate {Odontopetalum.) Stamens 15, 5 alterni- 

 petalous larger, and 10 oppositipetalous in pairs, ia 5 series, the 

 alternipetalous more or less high connate, 5-adelphous and at 

 base generally 1-adelphous. Other characters of Geranium. — Herbs 

 or undershrubs, stems sometimes fleshy or succulent ; petioles 

 spinescent [Sarcocaulon) ] leaves alternate or opposite, crenate or 

 dentate {Holopetalum), sometimes lobate or multifid ( Odontopetalum) 

 stipules 2, lateral ; inflorescence of Geranium. (South, north- 

 eastern Africa, trop. west. Asia.) See p. 6. 



5. Pelargonium L'hee. — Flowers irregular; sepals 5, imbricate; 

 the posterior adnate to pedicel in form of a spur. Petals 5, imbricate ; 

 3 anterior in bud different from posterior, more interior, sometimes 

 very small or all aborting ; anterior lateral interior, regular. Stamens 

 10 ; filaments eglandular, connate at base, 5 of them alternipetalous 

 generally anthiferous, more rarely the anterior 1, 2 antherless ; oppo- 



